Scowcroft Center Commentary, Analysis, & Reports

Article 5 Ten Years On: Division or Unity?

By Simona Kordosova, the New Atlanticist

From Simona Kordosova, the New Atlanticist:  Ten years ago, in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, NATO invoked Article 5 for the first and only time in its history.

As Iran Edges Closer to Nukes

By Barbara Slavin

One country is likely to get increasing attention during the presidential campaign: Iran. So it is important to frame the debate about Iran correctly — without hyping or underestimating the possibility it will get nuclear weapons in the near future. Compared to four countries that have developed nuclear weapons outside international norms — Israel, India, […]

Deterrence for the post-9/11 era

By Barry Pavel & Matthew Kroenig

Eric Schmitt and Thom Shanker’s new book, Counterstrike: The Untold Story of America’s Secret Campaign Against al Qaeda, credits our role in developing the first US government-wide strategy for deterring terrorist networks. They write that we “crafted a briefing to make the case that a combination of efforts — economic, diplomatic, military, political, and psychological … could in fact […]

Ten Years After 9/11 – What Have We Learned?

By Kurt Volker

After a decade defined by the terrorist attacks on the United States, and the reactions and events that followed, one thing is clear:  the global advance of core values –  freedom, democracy, economic opportunity, human rights and the rule of law – remains the best hope for the future of all people.

Nordic-Baltic Security in the 21st Century

The Atlantic Council today released “Nordic-Baltic Security in the 21st Century: The Regional Agenda and the Global Role,” a compendium of issue briefs on a range of topics related to Nordic-Baltic security, including NATO’s role in the region, energy security, and how the region can play a larger role in the transatlantic community in concert […]

American Dream or Americans Dreaming?

By Harlan Ullman

Sometimes, delusion, self-deception and outright denial can dominate the public’s psyche. As the U.S. economy stutters, unemployment refuses to budge and the 10th anniversary of September 11th looms, many Americans question or challenge the notion of the American Dream. For too many, that vision is, today, elusive or unobtainable. In compensation perhaps, America’s past successes […]

Afghan Security Faces Long-Term Challenges

By Barbara Slavin

U.S.-led efforts to build Afghan security forces capable of preventing Taliban resurgence face a series of challenges, from the reluctance of southern Pashtuns to serve in a national army, to maintaining the billions of dollars in infrastructure and equipment provided by the U.S. and other foreign countries over the past decade. Brig. Gen. Guy “Tom” […]

Learning from Libya: The right lessons for NATO

By Damon M. Wilson

“While NATO’s ‘Operation Unified Protector’ has revealed strains within the Alliance and foreshadows future challenges, the Libya operation is a great success.”  That is the conclusion of Atlantic Council Executive Vice President Damon Wilson in his Strategic Advisors Group issue brief, released as leaders of the Transitional National Council meet today in Paris with leading […]

Future options for NATO nuclear policy

By Jeffrey A. Larsen

The United States has maintained forward-deployed nuclear weapons in Europe for more than six decades. That may soon come to an end, argue Dr. Jeffrey A. Larsen, a retired Air Force command pilot and expert on arms control, in his Atlantic Council issue brief “Future Options for NATO Nuclear Policy.”  Unless current trends are altered, […]